Review: ‘I, Don Giovanni’

A decorative but dullish historical fluff about the creation of Mozart's opera.

The first collaboration between Carlos Saura and cinematographer Vittorio Storaro since “Goya in Bordeaux” a decade ago, “I, Don Giovanni” is decorative but dullish historical fluff about the creation of Mozart’s opera. Aiming closer to “Shakespeare in Love” than “Amadeus” — though the script lacks “Shakespeare’s” intricacy and wit, let alone depth enough to be taken seriously — this doughy pastry never quite rises, despite generous musical excerpts. Its impact most likely will be as an upscale broadcast item.